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Monday, October 30, 2006
Criminal past a public issue

James Arvaluk says his private life is none of your business. Oh, how he's mistaken.

Every time people go to court, aspects of their private lives become a matter of public record, whether they like it or not. That's multiplied many-fold when they choose to run for public office.

Arvaluk has done both. He's been convicted of sexual assault and assault on separate occasions. He's also been elected MLA three times, most recently as Pond Inlet's choice to represent the riding of Tunnuniq.

When questioned about his checkered past by Nunavut News/North last week, Arvaluk responded not with contrition or remorse, but by becoming defensive. Although his crimes were alcohol-related, he refused to discuss whether he still indulges in liquor. As a matter of fact, when asked that question, he hung up the phone. One thing cannot be denied: James Arvaluk received more support from the electorate than any of the three other candidates on Oct. 16. He did not, however, receive the majority of the popular vote.

If the bulk of voters agree with the Qulliit Council for the Status of Women, they would approve of the organization's call for tightened legislation governing who can run for a seat in the legislature. Unfortunately, Qulliit failed to make Arvaluk's criminal record an election issue in Pond Inlet. Now the people have spoken and the rest of us will have to accept their choice.


Remembering the past

What a treasure to view the well-preserved Dene artifacts which have found their way back to the North after being taken to Scotland by traders 150 years ago.

The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre should be commended for arranging the visit of a portion of the international exhibit on loan from the National Museums of Scotland.

Whether or not these historical items would have been preserved at all had they not been taken overseas is questionable.

These everyday items of clothing, pipes and utensils most likely would have been used on a daily basis until threadbare and unusable.

Therefore, the importance of such a collection is significant.

And should the opportunity arise to purchase Dene artifacts from such an exhibit, the NWT should seriously consider creating a vast permanent display of its own.

Not only would such a collection be a point of interest for tourists, but it would instill in future generations a strong link to days gone by.


People power

Banning alcohol has been tried many times in the North and in many communities. It rarely works, even in hamlets where the only access is by plane.

Ulukhaktok (Holman) and Fort McPherson are the latest communities looking for legislation as a way to stop the harm caused by alcohol.

In Ulukhaktok, a teacher is gathering names on a petition to limit the amount of alcohol people can bring into the community.

In Fort McPherson, Mayor Rebecca Blake has called a community meeting for tonight to talk about the problem.

She understands that banning booze won't stem the flow; alcoholism is a disease that a simple ban can't cure. For evidence, people need look no further than dry Tsiigehtchic, where Chief Peter Ross said alcohol is still abused.

Tonight's gathering is a first step, a way for people to let the abusers know how much damage liquor is doing to families. From there, everyone's going to have to keep up the pressure, to let friends, neighbours, moms, dads and elders know that drinking to excess is hurting people.

With steady effort, drinking can be reduced and communities healed.


Jewels of the North

Next time you see Bill Lyall in your travels, be sure to thank him.

It was largely thanks to this Kitikmeot Inuk's efforts that people in 33 Nunavut and the NWT communities share in the benefits of being part of a member-owned Co-op store.

Co-ops first appeared in the North in the 1950s and '60s as a means for artists to sell their wares. When Lyall got involved in the 1970s, Cambridge Bay's Ikaluktutiak Co-op was primarily a commercial fishing operation.

By pooling resources, the organization has grown and today the Arctic Co-operative movement enjoys total annual revenues of more than $227 million. Combined, the stores paid out $19.6 million in wages and benefits to some 800 Northerners last year alone.

At the same time, the organization helped sell $2.5 million worth of Inuit carvings, providing income for hundreds of Arctic artists.

But the Co-op story is about far more than dollars and cents -- it's about delivering products and services that otherwise wouldn't be available in many communities. Whether it's home heating fuel, cable television, furniture or sushi, if residents ask for it, the Co-ops try to bring it in at a reasonable price. Why? Because it's those same Northern residents, after all, who own this retail empire.

So when you're thanking Mr. Lyall, be sure to give yourself a pat on the back as well -- that's some booming business you've got there.


Egged up for police action

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News


For those who believe everything comes in cycles, the ugly behaviour that has crept into Rankin Inlet the past few months amounts to nothing more than it simply being this hamlet's turn.

Of course, subscribing to that particular theory provides an easy answer to just about any problem that comes one's way -- ignore it.

The majority of us, however, realize to simply sit back and let nature run its course when trouble comes calling is a fool's philosophy.

The Rankin detachment of the RCMP should be close to attending a council meeting to ask for its support in enforcing the hamlet curfew bylaw.

The reason? The late evening and early morning behaviour of a number of youth in the community is out of control.

Now, we realize eight out of 10 Rankin youth are outstanding young people with no desire to cause damage to people's property, get involved with racist activity or sneak into abandoned buildings to do drugs.

Unfortunately, the two who do give themselves to this type of behaviour do enough damage for all 10.

A number of residents have had their windows smashed with rocks or bombarded with eggs.

While the rocks are more costly to deal with in terms of dollars, if you have ever cleaned egg off a window in -30C temperatures, you know that's no walk in the park either.

But don't take my word for it. Ask my wife. She's become an expert at it during the past year.

And, like other folks in town suffering the same fate, we don't know why these kids want to give us a hard time.

That is, unless we were to start believing what some of them shout at us from the dark after delivering their shell-coated missiles.

If we were to believe that, we would have to accept the fact they hate us for no other reason than the colour of our skin.

As people who have come to think of Rankin as our home during the past eight years, we would support an RCMP initiative to enforce the curfew bylaw.

And, we'd even like the police to give the bylaw more clout.

The parents of these kids are either in the dark about their behaviour or simply don't care.

However, if the RCMP were to keep a tally sheet of a $20 fine for every time a kid was caught out after curfew, caring about their behaviour might become popular quite quickly.

The trick would be to set an amount at which fines owing become collectible.

If the parents refuse to (or cannot) pay, the fines can be erased by community service work.

We're willing to bet folks would take an interest in what their kids are up to after a few guest lodgings or $100 hits to the pocket book.

Hamlet council could help matters by cutting through the red tape to get rid of the remaining abandoned buildings in town that are havens for alcohol and drug abuse.

Rankin is a great little community and, when ugliness rears its head, it takes a community to deal with it.

No community is perfect and no system is flawless, but, a message must be sent that this type of behaviour is unacceptable.

And, if you're caught, someone will pay the price.


The price of growing up

Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum


As I drove home from the town meeting about the new school last week, all I could think of was a question asked by a guy at the back of the room.

Yup, the guy at the back of the room who speaks up when the crowd is silent.

You all know him, the person who arrives late to a town meeting and has innovative and sometimes unconventional thoughts to share with the public.

It's not even the same guy all the time. I think this entity changes shape so not to raise suspicion.

He asks questions like he was planted to do so by the presenter.

So this time around, mister X drapes his sport coat over his shoulder and asks the presenters how they will deal with the loss of the baseball diamond and soccer field during the three-year construction period of the new schools.

I stumbled to think of a response in my head, but was stopped by the notion of not having a ball diamond for three years.

Sure, we all know I don't play slo-pitch, but people seem to get a kick of the sport. Plus, there are always great photo opportunities at those games.

I think the town would really suffer from not having a diamond, or soccer field for three seasons.

If we cannot gather and find a solution to making a temporary site for the ball diamond and soccer pitch, we might find ourselves missing out on a great deal of action.

I am, however, in favour of the proposed recreation plaza that could one day include ball diamonds, the soccer field, a new concrete skatepark and the family centre.

It is a dream that is only less than a decade away, with proper planning and a little effort.

The main thing halting this plan is that the Sir Alexander Mackenzie school building needs to be levelled first.

The school can only be torn down once students have a permanent place to learn.

So there is the dilemma of waiting for the construction of the new school building.

I have to say that the recreational services took a back seat in my head once I saw the floor plan of that new, glorious building.

Just looking at the rough draft floor design had my blood pumping with anticipation of one day walking through an education centre that surpasses any other in the territory.


Communities defined by people

Editorial Comment
Jessica Gray
Deh Cho Drum


When I first said I was visiting the Deh Cho for a month, people around me made sure I knew the sights to see.

"The fall is beautiful in the Deh Cho," and "make sure to take pictures of the Mackenzie River when you get there," or "I hear the drive to Wrigley is amazing."

Admittedly, the scenery is one of a kind here in the Deh Cho, but rivers and trees won't be the thoughts foremost in my mind as I head back to Yellowknife.

Talking to Drum editor Roxanna Thompson after she arrived back this week, she told me she was happy to be home.

She said it was a nice change to walk down the street and have people wave and greet her as she passed.

That is what I will miss.

While I was prepared for the many introductions I would have to make in the communities, I wasn't prepared for the many people who introduced themselves.

I was asked to share in the feast at the Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner celebrated this month, not because I was from the paper and taking photos, but because I was a part of the community.

At the drum dance the next evening, several people whom I had met approached me to say hello, and also many more who I hadn't met yet. I felt as if even I could have danced that night alongside people who had lived in the community for years without feeling out of place (except when my lack of rhythm became apparent).

These are the things missing from big cities. And so, looking back at my time here, I've realized it's not the places you go that stand out, it's the people you live with.

This is something residents in this area need to remember more than ever.

Speaking to leaders of bands in the region, it's clear everyone wants to work together and present a unified front.

But it takes much more than that to find a compromise or an agreement representing the region's needs as a whole.

Saying you think an agreement will be reached is a far cry from taking action to work towards a resolution. It seems as though communities are so worried about their individual needs, that they refuse to see how little they will accomplish on their own. But even so, groups supposed to represent the collective needs of all must understand what is good for one group, isn't necessarily good for others.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank those I've met for their kindness during my stay and hope the future is a bright one.

Deh Cho Drum editor Roxanna Thompson has is ready for the next edition to hit the stands.

- Regular Drum editor Roxanna Thompson is on vacation. She returns next week.


Correction

In the article APTN come North, (News/North Oct. 16) Jean LaRose's name was spelled incorrectly.

As well, a photo caption in Nunavut News/North Oct. 16 incorrectly identified a man preparing ice at the Rankin Inlet arena. The worker in the photo was Jackson Lindell, not Sikati Kusugak.

We apologize for any confusion or embarrassment the errors may have caused.